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A law expert cast doubt over the impact of today's Supreme Court ruling on equal pay, saying that the likelihood of people coming forward to claim would significantly depend on the funds they had available to pursue a case.

Whether equal pay claims are brought at all is likely to be determined by whether claimants can obtain funding and legal help via their union membership or elsewhere.

It must also be remembered that due to the funding likely to be available and costs consequences that can result from bringing claims in the civil courts, only cases deemed strong enough in the eyes of the legal adviser are likely to be taken on.

– Glenn Hayes, a Partner and employment law expert at Irwin Mitchell

Mr Hayes added that in the case of bringing such a claim in a civil court rather than a tribunal, both employers and employees will face the same issues when it comes to defending or proceeding with a claim.